Meetings: Mix of Old and New

UPDATE, 4:30pm: Town planner Rob White clarified that the planning commission open house is for public input on where the changes should be made to the comprehensive plan. This is your chance to say want you want to see in our future.
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Two meetings this week offer a mix of forward planning and historical remnants:

• Comprehensive Plan: Wednesday, March 27th at 7pm at the Joyce Community Center, the Ruston Planning Commission will hold a hearing on changes to the Comprehensive Plan. This plan lays out the guidelines and scope for all the zoning codes and future development. If you can't make the meeting, written comments can be emailed to robw@rustonwa.org. The current 2003 plan can be viewed here... The discussion materials from the planning commission meeting on the issue are available here...
• New Yard Replacement Program: Thursday, March 28th, 6:30-8:30pm at Point Defiance Elementary School, Washington State Department of Ecology will host an open house to outline their new yard cleanup program. The project includes reviewing the EPA cleanup on Ruston yards and potential replacement of some of those yards. More details are available here... 

Get Your Bunny Hop On!

The renewed tradition of hunting for candy-filled Easter eggs in front of Town Hall continues this year on Saturday, March 30th. Bring the little bunnies over at 9am, rain or shine. The hunt usually takes all of 10 minutes, then we gather at the Joyce Community Center to warm up with coffee and a bake sale. It's a great way to celebrate the holiday!

Get The Latest SAMI Scoop

Sewer Project More Than $.7 Million Under Budget

The council will formally adopt the bonding and finalize the loan from USDA at its regular meeting tonight. The estimated loan of $4.9 million has been reduced to just under $4.2 million. Mayor Hopkins was able to reduce the interest rate as well after rates dropped while the sewer was being installed.

Full documents for tonight's actions are on the town's web page here... The meeting starts at 7pm at the Joyce Community Center, 5219 N. Shirley Street.

Ruston Rooster

UPDATE: 8:10am - The Ruston Rooster is on the move again! Look closely at the top of fence in front of the door...

 

Be on guard, the Ruston Rooster is on the loose in the neighborhood. We had the elf with gifts last Christmas, not a rooster has been spotted in local yards. If you capture the elusive creature in your garden, please shoo him along to a new spot and share the fun!

Time to Dust Off Those Pruning Shears

Here is your chance to warm up your pruning skills and help beautify the town at the same time. This email came in today, so put it on the calendar! 
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Heads up!  Shauna Cozad (certified arborist and 3-yr resident of Ruston ) will be presenting a pruning workshop on Sunday March 24 at 1:00 in the afternoon.  We’ll meet in front of the Town Hall.  This hands-on workshop will last about 2 hours—rain or shine.  Plan to bring your pruning tools—no chainsaws please—and gloves so we can practice on trees and shrubs on Winnifred Street .

 

This pruning workshop will:

•   Review the tools, terminology and basic biology of trees
•   Review the 5 essential steps in training young landscape trees (2-5 years)
•   Learn the pruning types - crown cleaning, trimming, raising and reduction
•   Dispel myths about outdated practices - heading or topping, flush cuts and sealing wounds
•   Review corrective pruning techniques for mature trees
•   Pruning conifers or "evergreens"
•   Build confidence to take your skills home with some hands-on pruning practice time
•   What to bring: hand tools; no chainsaws please; notebook and a pair of gloves

Shauna Willett is a certified arborist and landscape designer with seven years experience consulting, climbing, pruning and teaching about trees and urban forestry. She has a BS in Landscape Architecture and an MA in Geography and Urban Forestry from UC Davis. She has lived in Ruston for 3 years with husband Chris and baby daughter Harper.

Call Ginger, 752-3041 with questions.

Shoreline Work Complete

The News Tribune reported on March 6th that the shoreline sediment capping along Point Ruston was almost complete. The crane and barges have been gone for several days now, so this phase of the work may indeed be done. You can read the article here...

2013 Ruston Family Fair

Mark your calendars now, the 2013 Ruston Family Fair is coming to beautiful downtown Ruston once again this summer on Saturday, August 10th from 11am til 4pm. Vendors, artist, yummy food service folks are invited to join the fun. More details and contract form available here...

Point Ruston In The News Again

The Business Examiner has a great update on the development progress and next steps at Point Ruston. Although it was written before the announcement of Marlene's Grocery withdrawal, there are still plenty of positive signs. You can read the article here....

Council Meeting Tonight

Political life in Ruston continues to sail along smoothly. Minor changes are on tap tonight for how subdivisions are granted and first reading is scheduled for removing fees from Ruston codes (approving them via resolution instead) and more administration on the sewer replacement project. The meeting is tonight at 7pm at the Joyce Community Center, 5219 N. Shirley. Details on this material is available on the town's web page here...

Grocer Backs Out of Point Ruston Development

The News Tribune is reporting that Marlene's Market & Deli has changed its mind and will not open a new store at Point Ruston as previously announced. Point Ruston manager Mike Cohen said they are negotiating with a new grocer. More details are available in the article here...

More Good News At Point Ruston

The hillside above the major urban center of Point Ruston has new construction bubbling. Known as Stack Hill, the high-end single-family homes are gradually filling in. After a quiet year or two, three new homes are now under construction. It's looking good in the neighborhood!

Spectacular And Historic Walk

It is an historic day at Point Ruston. For the first time, the public can walk the shoreline of the former smelter property, at least part of it. The first leg of the Waterwalk is open to the ferry, which now serves as a sales center for the new development. The fences are down and folks can wander over the octopus tile mosaic, sit in the benches at the gazebo to gaze over Commencement Bay and Mount Rainer or continue out to the ferry to visit the sales center.

Loren Cohen, Legal Affairs Manager for Point Ruston and son of owner Mike Cohen, expressed excitement at this first step. This is an important element in their redevelopment vision. He said their team is looking forward to the full Waterwalk opening - right now the path is blocked just past the ferry. Cohen noted it's the first time in more than a century that the public has been able to enjoy this part of Commencement Bay.

The ferry sales center will be open Friday-Monday from noon-4pm, with hours extending as the days get longer. It's a short walk, but one of the most beautiful in the South Sound. Like that irritating ad says - Get down here!